Art Criticism – An organized approach for studying a work of art. This evaluating process had four stages: description,
analysis, interpretation, and judgment.
1. Description – A list of all the things you see in the artwork. Include the size, medium, the subject, elements of
art, and artist (if known). (Only visual facts).
2. Analysis – In art criticism, the 2 nd step is where you discover how the principles of design are used to organize
the elements of art. Explain how the principles of design (emphasis, movement, balance, unity, variety, rhythm,
proportion) are used in the art work being analyzed. How is the piece arranged. (In art history, determine the style of
the artwork).
3. Interpretation – In art criticism, the 3rd step where you explain the content and mood of the artwork. “What
is the artist trying to communicate”. Connect what you discovered in step one and two, combined with your knowledge,
in order to explain the emotion and meaning of the artwork. (In art history, you do research about the artist).
4. Judgment – In art criticism, the last step where you determine the degree of artist merit. Was the artwork
successful? (In art history, the step in which you determine if the work has made an important contribution to the
history of art).
Aesthetics – A philosophy concerned with asking the question, “what is successful art” (no longer just “what is
beautiful”). Aesthetics explore the literal qualities, design qualities, and expressive qualities which are directly related
with the subject, composition, and content of a work of art. For example: 1. Imitationalism and literal qualities. 2.
Formalism and design qualities (Principles of Design). 3. Emotionalism and expressive qualities.
Art Criticism – An organized approach for studying a work of art. This evaluating process had four stages: description,
analysis, interpretation, and judgment.
1. Description – A list of all the things you see in the artwork. Include the size, medium, the subject, elements of
art, and artist (if known). (Only visual facts).
2. Analysis – In art criticism, the 2 nd step is where you discover how the principles of design are used to organize
the elements of art. Explain how the principles of design (emphasis, movement, balance, unity, variety, rhythm,
proportion) are used in the art work being analyzed. How is the piece arranged. (In art history, determine the style of
the artwork).
3. Interpretation – In art criticism, the 3rd step where you explain the content and mood of the artwork. “What
is the artist trying to communicate”. Connect what you discovered in step one and two, combined with your knowledge,
in order to explain the emotion and meaning of the artwork. (In art history, you do research about the artist).
4. Judgment – In art criticism, the last step where you determine the degree of artist merit. Was the artwork
successful? (In art history, the step in which you determine if the work has made an important contribution to the
history of art).
Aesthetics – A philosophy concerned with asking the question, “what is successful art” (no longer just “what is
beautiful”). Aesthetics explore the literal qualities, design qualities, and expressive qualities which are directly related
with the subject, composition, and content of a work of art. For example: 1. Imitationalism and literal qualities. 2.
Formalism and design qualities (Principles of Design). 3. Emotionalism and expressive qualities.